Air-exhaust and vacuum seal valve.



L. F. OSTRANDEII. Am EXHAUST AND VACUUM SEAL VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-20,19I6- mmmgm Patented J an. 14, 1919.

WWW M5 [Tm Mr LEWIS F. OSTRANDER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF 'IO F. ESIEBON, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

AIR-EXHAUST AND VACUUM SEAL VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

I atentedtlan. it, M919.

Application filed November 20. 1916. Serial No. 132.378.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lnwrs F. *Osrnnnnnn, a citizen of the United. States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Air-Exhaust and Vacuum Seal Valves, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled' in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates generally to vapor, vacuum and steam heating systems and more particularly to a valve or fitting which is connected at a suitable point to the main return pipe of the system for the purpose of permitting air in the heating system to escape or exhaust, and which valve is closed by means under influence of heat of the vapor in the system, and further said value maintaining its closed position by reason of a partial vacuum which is established in the radiators and circulating pipes of the system. i

The principal objects of my invention are to produce a comparatively simple, inexpensive and automatically operating air exhausting valve which can be advantageously employed with practically all the vapor, vacuum and steam heating systems now in general use; to provide a valve which is positive in action. and highly effective in use; and further to provide an air exhaust valve with a member which will readily expand under heat of vapor within the system to which the valve is applied, to cause said valve to close, said heat actuated valve closing member being adjustable so that its action can be regulated to various degrees of temperature.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevational View of an ordinary form of heater used in connection with steam heating systems and showing my improved exhaust and vacuum valve connected to the main return pipe leading to said heater.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectiontaken lengthwise through the center of my improved valve.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken approximately 011 the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4: is a cross sectional view taken ap proximately 011 the line a e of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a portion of my improved valve and showing one of the ribs on which the ball valve travels, the inclinatiorl of the rib in this view being exaggerate Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, 10 designates the heater of an ordinary steam heating system, 11 the main return pipe of the system, and 12 the air line to which latter is connected the outlet pipes from the radiators.

My improved air exhaust and vacuum valve is connected to this air pipe 12 a substantial distance above the water line in the boiler and preferably at a point near the latter. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the valve in eludes a substantially hollow elbow shaped body portion 13 with which is formed integrally a horizontally disposed tubular extension 14, the outer end of the latter being threaded internally and externally. The outer end of the horizontally disposed portion of body 13 is internally threaded and screw seated therein is a tubular member 15, the outer end of which is internally threaded to receive a short tubular member 16, which latter connects the device to the air line 12. Formed at the inner end of this tubular memher 15 is a vertically disposed annular valve seat 17, and extending inwardly from the member 15, and around this valve seat are three or more ribs 18,,the inner faces of which are slightly inclined downwardly toward the valve seat 17. This inclination of the face of one of the ribs is illustrated in Fig. 5, it being understood that the degree of inclination is greatly exaggerated in said illustration. The valve 19, preferably in the form of a hollow metal ball, is adapted to move backwardly and forwardly upon the ribs 18 and when said valve rests upon the seat 17 the passage-way from the chamber within the body 13 to the chamber within the tubular member 15 is closed. The lower end of the vertical portion of the member 13 is internally threaded in order to receive the end of tube 20, the same serving as an exhaust ipe for the air which escapes through the va ve. Screweeated in the outer end of tubular member 14 is a plug 21, the outer end of which is provided with a slot 22 which is adapted to receive a screw driver or like tool, and removably seated in the inner end of said plug is an expansible composition member 23, preferably in the form of a cylinder, the same being inclosed by a protective shield 24 preferably of metal. This member terminates at a point adjacent to the ends of the ribs 18 and positioned on the inner end of said member is a metal cap 25. Screw-seated on the outer end of member 14 is a cap 26. Under normal conditions, or while the expansible member is subjected to normal temperatures, said member is contracted and consequently the cap 25 on the free end thereof occupies a position a short distance away from the ball valve 19. The air in the system to which my improved de vice is connected naturally seeks outlet at the point of least resistance which, in this instance, is throughthe exhaust valve, and in escaping, said air will move the ball valve away from the seat 17.

It will be understood that the ball rests very lightly against its seat, which condition is due to the very slight inclination of the inner faces of the ribs 18 and conse quently very little air pressure is required to unseat said valve. As soon as all of the air in the system has exhausted or discharged through the device, the vapor following said air will heat the expansible composition member a3, thereby expanding and lengthening the same with the result that the ball valve 1) will be forced onto its seat, thereby closing the passageway through the device. After the system is thus closed and the radiators have cooled slightly, a partial vacuum Will be established in said radiators and in the circulating pipes of the system, and this partial vacuum maintains the ball valve in position upon its seat, even after the expansible member has contracted and drawn away from said ball valve due to low temperatures. As soon as the partial vacuum within the system is broken by air getting into the system, the ball valve will be free to move away from its seat, thereby permitting the air to escape freely and quickly. The normal relative position of the expansible member with respect to the ball valve can be regulated by unscrewing the-cap 26 atthe outer end of member 14 and adjusting the position of plug 21. in the end of said member. Under normal conditions ball valve 19 rests with very slight pressure against seat 17 consequently very little air pressure is required 7 to move the ball away from its seat to permit the escape of air and likewise a rela tively small degree of vacuum srequired to maintain the ball upon its seat. These results, Which are brought about by the very slight inclination ofthe ribs 18 toward the seat 17, are decidedly advantageous in a device of this character, by reason of the fact that said device is very sensitive and comparatively slight variations in temperature will cause the valve to open and close.

An air exhaust and vacuum valve of my improved construction is very simple, can be easily and cheaply manufactured, is entirely automatic in its action, can be readily adjusted to suit different conditions and can be advantageously employed in connection with practically all of the vapor, vacuum and steam heating systems now in general use. 7

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved valve can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A housing provided with a valve seat, ball valve supports disposed in front of said seat and declining gradually toward the same, a ball valve positioned on said supports and adapted to rest upon said seat and close the passage my through the hours ing, an expansible member within the housing, which member is adapted to engage the valve and force the same to its seat, and a shield for the body of said expansible member.

2. A housing provided with a valve seat, ball valve supports disposed in front of said seat and declining gradually toward the same, a ballvalve positioned on said supports and adapted to rest upon said seat and close the passageway through the housing, an expansible member within the housing, which member is adapted to engage the valve and force the same to its seat, a shield for the body of said expansible member, and a cap on the end of the member that engages said ball valve.

3. A device of the class described comprising a horizontally disposed housing, a valve seat therein, a ball valve adapted to engage said seat and close the passageway through said housing, a support for said ball valve, which support declines toward the seat, and an expansible member within the housing, which member is adapted to engage the ball and force the same to its seat.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 1st day of November, 1916.

LEWIS F. OSTRANDER.

Witnesses M. P. SMITH, M. A. HANDEL.

.Copis of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

